Tooth cleansing devices



NOV-` 19, 1957 JANxs-INDRIKIS lKsE 2,813,529

TOOTH CLEANSING DEVICES Filed March 18, 1955 JA/ws-mnRl-ms ms Bf MMMATTORNE YS United States Patent O TOOTH CLEANSING DEVICES Janis-IndrikisIkse, Goteborg, Sweden Application March 18, 1955, Serial No. 495,141Claims priority, application Sweden March 22, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl. 12S-229) The present invention relates to tooth cleansing devices thecleansing action of which is elected by tine jets of a liquid forced outthrough a nozzle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of thistype which will be very eticient in its operation. A further object ofthe invention is to provide a cleansing device the nozzle of which isprovided with means which will greatly facilitate the use of the device.

Further objects of the invention will be made clear by the followingspecification with reference to the accompanying drawing showing anembodiment of the invention. ln the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view ofthe tooth cleansing device some portions of which are broken away. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section of the fore portion of the device on alarger scale. Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a cross section on theline Ill-III and IV-IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of avalve casing serving also as a handle for the device. Fig. 6 is an endView of this casing. Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, a plane view and asection of the perforated plate. Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the useot the device.

`ln the drawing, 1 denotes a hollow stem or shank, into which a pipe 2is inserted and forms a channel 3 ending in a channel 4 in a nozzle 5provided on the eXtreme end of the shank 1, the channel 4 being closedat the fore end thereof. The nozzle 5 in cross-section perpendicular tothe channel 4 has substantially V-shape as shown by Figs. 3 and 4. Thedischarge opening of the nozzle is covered by a thin, oblong perforatedplate 7 inserted between the side walls 6 of the nozzle, said platebeing substantially parallel with the channels 3 and 4. The plate 7 ispreferably made from stainless steel or metal and is by means of screws8 or other means removably secured to the nozzle S. Said plate, which isshown in detail in Figs. 7 and S, is provided with a large number ofsmall apertures 9 arranged in longitudinal rows substantially parallelwith the longitudinal direction of the channel 4. The holes are suitablyconical widening towards the channel 4. The narrow end of the holes hasa diameter not below about 0.3 mm., and said diameter preferably shouldnot exceed about 0.8 mm. According to Fig. 7 the apertures 9 arearranged in four rows parallel with the channel 4, the apertures of onerow having alternately smaller or larger diameter, respectively, thanthe apertures of an adjacent row. The diierence of the sizes ofdiameters may be about 0.1 mm. so that if the apertures of one row havea diameter of 0.3 mm., the apertures of next row have a diameter of 0.4mm., the apertures of the following row have a diameter `of 0.3 mm. andso on. Such varying sizes of the apertures are, however, not absolutelynecessary. The total number of apertures in practical embodiments of theinvention may vary between about 20 and 60. Embodiments with larger orfewer number of apertures are, however, not excluded.

It is important that the side walls 6 extend outwards a distance pastthe plane of the plate, said side walls forming side shields before thelongitudinal edges of the plate.

. spindle is moved against the The rear end of the shank 1 is connectedby a coupling member 11 screwed thereon to a coupling sleeve 13 screwedin valve casing 12. Said coupling member and sleeve being connected by abayonet joint comprising, for instance, a pin 14 on the coupling member11 and angular slots 15 on the coupling sleeve with the ends of the pinadapted to engage with said slots. Thus, the coupling parts 11 and 13are easily connected and disconnected. In their operative position saidparts contact each other by frusto-conical surfaces 16 and 17respectively.

In a cylindrical recess 18 of the valve casing 12, a sleeve 20 is tted,said sleeve having less outer diameter than the recess 18. Outside thesleeve 20,` the recess 18 communicates with the channel 3 of the shank 1through channels 21 in the coupling member 11. The sleeve 20 is dividedby a transverse partition-wall 22, and on both sides of this wall thesleeve through one or more holes 23 and 24 communicates with the recess18 outside the sleeve. The liquid from the channel 19 will be caused tollow through the holes 23 into the recess 18 .and from the latterthrough the holes 24 back into the sleeve 20 before ilowing furtherthrough the channels 21. 'llhe portion of the sleeve having the holes 24is designed to receive a tablet or the like 25 (Fig. l) of adisinfectant or hygienic agent for the mouth.

A screen or ilter 26 is provided in the joint between the couplingmember 11 and the shank 1 and prevents the movement of solid particleswith the liquid to the nozzle 5.

The ow of water or liquid through the channel 19 of the valve casing 12is regulated by a valve comprising a valve spindle 27 extending througha hole in a partitionwall 29 between two enlarged portions 30 and 31 ofthe channel 19. Said spindle is held in its closed position by ascrew-spring 32 supporting by its one end on a screw plug 33 and by itsother end on a ange 34 on the spindle, said flange by means of a packingring 34 bearing on the partition-wall 29 in the closed position of thevalve. The spindle has one or more recesses 35 which, when the action ofthe spring 32 and the packing ring 34', is moved from the partition-wall29, opens the communication between the two channel portions 30 and 31.The valve is opened by means of a push button 36 on a spindle 37 whichis slidable in a screw plug 38 the edge of which retains a diaphragm 39of an elastic material such as rubber, said diaphragm also tightlyclosing the 4channel portion 30 on level with the extreme end or thespindle 27. The valve casing 12, which is also intended to be used as ahandle for the device, is curved, the push button 36 being located onthe concave side of the casing. The rear end of this curved valve casingis connected by means of a nipple 40 to a coupling for a hose orflexible tube 42 which may be connected to a water conduit preferablyfor hot and cold water or to a water tank or container from which thewater is supplied to the device under suitable pressure.

By means of the push button 36 the supply of water to the nozzle isregulated by the hand holding the device. The device may be held in sucha position that the set of teeth to be cleansed is positioned betweenthe side shields 6 as shown in Fig. 9. The tine jets of liquid, which bythe conical form of the holes 9 will be well-defined and not be brokenup into fine drops, will strike on the :surfaces of the teeth, penetrateinto the narrow interspaces between the teeth and cleanse theseinterspaces and the gums without injuring the latter. On the contrary,the gums will be exposed to a beneficial massage treatment fortifyingthe gums. The set of the teeth during the spraying will be locatedbetween the side shields 6 which prevent sprinkling of the waterdischarged through the apertures 9 under pressure out of the mouth orinto the throat or in other undesired directions. These side shieldsalso serve as a guide for the nozzle 5 when the latter is moved alongthe set of teeth. With the aid of these shields and without use of amirror it is easy to place the nozzle in intended position in the mouthand by rotating the nozzle through suitable angles about the axis of theshank 1 one may direct the jets of the liquid against the biting surfaceof the teeth, against their front side or against their rearV side. Inparticular for' children, the side shields 6` facilitate the rightplacing of the nozzle S in the mouth so that the jets of liquid obtainthe directions intended.

The tablet placed in the socket 20 should, of course, have a suitable4solubility in water so as to be `sufficient for several cleansingoperations if desired.

In a family having several members, each member may have a shank 1 withnozzle S, said shank with nozzle being adapted to be easily connectedwith and disconnected from the casing or handle 12, which latter may becommon to all members of the family.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing anddescribed above, but the details thereof may vary Within the scope' ofthe invention.

What l claim is:

1. A tooth cleansing device comprising a nozzle, a shank carrying thenozzle, a valve casing removably connected to said shank, a channelleading through the valve casing and the shank to the nozzle, a valve insaid valve `casing for controlling said channel, a removable plate ofextended form covering a discharge opening of the nozzle, a number of neapertures in said plate for forming a corresponding number of tine jetsof the liquid, two opposite side walls of the nozzle extending past twoopposite longitudinal side edges of the plate so as to form a sideshield before each of these edges of the plate.

2. A tooth cleansing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valvecasing is arc-shaped and adapted to serve as handle for the device.

3. A tooth cleansing device comprising `a nozzle, a shank carrying thenozzle, an arc-shaped Valve casing removably connected to said shank, achannel leading through the valve casing and the shank to the nozzle, avalve in said valve casing for controlling supply of liquid through thechannel, means for operating said valve on the concave side of thearc-shaped valve casing, a removable plate of extended form covering adischarge opening of the nozzle, a number of fine apertures in saidplate for forming a corresponding number of ne jets of the liquid, twoopposite side walls of the nozzle extending past two oppositelongitudinal' side edges of the plate so as to form a side shield beforeeach of these edges of the plate.

4. A tooth cleansing device comprising a nozzle, a shank carrying thenozzle, a valve casing connected to the shank, a channel leading throughthe valve casing and the shank to the nozzle, a valve in said valvecasing for controlling supply of liquid through the channel to thenozzle, a sleeve adapted to receive a tablet of an antiseptic substanceconnected to the channel so as to cause the liquid to pass through thesleeve on its way to the nozzle and dissolve said substance, a removableplate of extended '4 form covering a discharge opening of the nozzle, anumber of line apertures in said plate for forming a correspondingnumber of ne jets of the liquid, two opposite side walls of the nozzleextending past two opposite longitudinal side edges of the plate so asto form a side shield before each of these edges of the plate.

5. A tooth cleansing device comprising a nozzle, a shank carrying saidnozzle, a channel leading through said shank to said nozzle forsupplying cleansing liquid thereto, a plate having the plane sidesthereof substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of saidshank, said plate covering a discharge Iopening of said nozzle, aplurality of fine apertures in said plate for forming a correspondingnumber of tine jets of the liquid substantially perpendicularly to` thelongitudinal direction of said shank, and two opposite side walls of thenozzle extending past two opposite side edges of said plate so as toform a side shield before each of said side edges of the plate.

6. A tooth cleansing device comprising a nozzle having a dischargeopening, a shank carrying said nozzle, said shank having a channelleading therethrough and to said nozzle for supplying cleansing liquidthereto, a plate of extended form being substantially parallel with thelongitudinal direction of said shank and covering said discharge openingof the nozzle, a plurality of line aper tures in said plate for forminga corresponding number of fine jets of the liquid substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said shank, two oppositeside walls of said nozzle extending past two longitudinal side edges ofsaid plate so as to form a side shield before said plate at each of saidedges and said shields diverging outwards with a small `angle from thedirections of the jets through said apertures.

7. A tooth cleansing device comprising a nozzle having a dischargeopening, a shank carrying said nozzle, said shank having a channelleading therethrough and to said nozzle for supplying cleansing liquidthereto, a removable plate covering said discharge opening of the nozzleand disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction ofsaid shank, said plate having a plurality of line apertures for forminga corresponding number of tine jets ofthe liquid substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal' direction of said shank, two oppositeside walls of said nozzle extending past two opposite side edges of saidplate so as to form a side shield before each of these edges of saidplate, and said shields diverging outwards through a small angle fromthe direction of the jets through said apertures.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,466,474 Hatcher et al. Aug. 28, 1923 2,208,031 Hooper July 16, 19402,469,534 Wessels May l0, 1949 2,552,352 Swanson May 8, 1951 2,709,112Curtice May 24, 1955

